Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 38

The 18th of July, the day of the festival! Or so it had been planned but… Ugh, talk about inconvenience. Honestly, maybe they had secretly been looking forward to that. Maybe more than they should have been looking forward to it or them wanting to admit to it. They even wanted to pick out a yukata for this occasion. And before knowing it they had been almost eager to follow that date plan. No, this wasn’t a—

Actually, who were they even lying to? Investigating was one thing and they could separate the two. But some personal fun… In hopes to get closer. But even then the progress was… Nonexistent. In fact, has there ever been progress? Even when the two met up at the station. They were ready to brush it off yet once the rain had started the mood just went sour. Get shelter for a short while and that was what happened. They were standing there as Anja, right next to Akechi yet it has been silent since. 

“Talk about a ruined occasion. But what can you do?” He sighed, an attempt to start a conversation maybe. But it would be just the same mundane one again. Like the two had been at it for months. If there was fun involved maybe they could look past that but… Not now. It has been months and they still had to listen to his voice. This softness is still a shallow one all the same. It was just… They couldn’t take it. It made this all difficult. “A shame. Even after making some time.”

“Y… Yeah…” Anja agreed and that was true. But they really couldn’t hide it. Day in and out they just played pretend, the both of them. And for what exactly? It was just… Hah, maybe the rain was bringing the mood down. Maybe that was why they were a little more tense. Well, not just that but it was a big contributor. Actually, while he was talking they just couldn’t face him, at all. 

“Are you really going to make a long face because of the rain? That’s not like you at all.”

“I was just looking forward to it all… And then they cancel the festival altogether.” But that was not the only reason. “I wanted to enjoy it at least a little bit.”

“There’s always a next time, isn’t there?”

“M… Maybe… I suppose…” And yet they let out the sigh, leaning against the wall nearby. No, this was not why they were in such a sour mood. There was a bigger reason. But when to bring it up? Why did they even feel like suddenly bringing it up? Was it because the two were spending more time together than usual due to this investigation thing? They were looking at him from a different perspective but… 

“Don’t tell me you’re going to act like a little kid now.”

“Can you not talk like that? That tone of yours is annoying.” Ah— It suddenly slipped out. Drat! That was not the intention! 

They didn’t need to see him to hear the confusion on his face. That gasp had said it all. “My tone? Was what I said inappropriate?”

“Ah… That’s not what I—” Anja turned their head towards Akechi again, coming face to face with him. They wanted to say it. They had started now but… Looking at him now… Did he even know what they meant? And besides, this came out of nowhere. They felt more embarrassed however. And worst of all, he didn’t say anything. He was waiting for their response. Hence why they let out a nervous smile all of a sudden. Even they knew that it was forced. Yet they kept their upbeat tone as well. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. The rain’s got me in a bad mood.” A lie, wasn’t it? Again… They started to lie to him.

“Just the rain huh…” He said, leaving a small pause in between. Before something got him to chuckle all of a sudden… ‘Hey! Wipe that smirk off your face!’ It was what they wanted to say but it didn’t come out of their mouth. “I didn’t know that you could be so childish.”

Akechi had said this with no hesitation whatsoever. In fact he was awfully confident in this observation and it drove them a little insane in the head. Was that part of the act? Or was that him talking!? Though he had dropped the tone a little, there was a hint of snark in there… Or they were imagining it. Though it was a little different from the usual suddenly. Or that was wishful thinking. “Who said I couldn’t be?”

“If you don’t watch it people will call you a brat.”

“Then they can~” Anja huffed, turning away… For a short moment. Because he had the audacity to counter it in a way they did not expect.

“So you won’t mind if I called you brat? Because that’s what you act like sometimes.” It was… Wait, hold on what—

“H… Hey! No fair! Unless you want a stupid nickname too!” They retorted quickly, though they could feel some redness… Ah, what were they doing at this point!? But it got him to hold back from laughing. They could see it again, how he was just trying not to let it slip. 

“I’ve had worse from you than a nickname.”

“What’s with you today? Being like that out of nowhere.” They had decided to point it out yet the moment they did they noticed him suddenly dropping that smirk. Instead he looked shocked, then embarrassed before suddenly turning away. Wait… Did he not notice or something? “Akechi? Are you ok? Is it the wea—”

“Ah!I almost forgot, I have to take my leave!” He interrupted them however. “You know how it is! I… Bye!”

And before they could ask something else they saw him running off, not even facing them. And it had them confused. What was that? Huh, weird… Maybe his mask slipped? The thought of that made them smile a little. His masking slipping off, just like that… Naturally… 

Actually, if this was what Akechi was actually like… Then they wouldn’t mind seeing it more often. Beats the ‘Perfect Prince’ personality for sure. 

“Well, looks like I won’t point it out next time then~”